One injured in explosion at IMF office in Paris

Paris, March 16 (IANS) One person was injured on Thursday after an explosion at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) headquarters in Paris, security sources said.

The French media reported that the woman had opened a parcel addressed to a senior IMF official that contained an explosive substance, burning her hands and face.

Investigators told BFMTV the device was a “large black cylinder, about 30cm long”, with the blast so large the room’s ceiling was hit by shrapnel.

Police authorities in Paris said the explosive substance was not a bomb but rather a homemade “big firecracker”, reported the Independent.

France’s anti-terrorism branch has opened an investigation into attempted murder, destruction through explosive means, possession of explosive substance and links with a terrorist initiative, according to reports.